Basketball Officiating

I was scheduled for a girls & boys varsity basketball game at
 Hoggard HS, Wilmington, NC, on February 11.  Kelly & I were
 going to meet my partners (Peck Lilly & Peter Cruz)at the site.

Traffic was moving great and we were making great time when all
 of a sudden it became bumper to bumper about 2 miles before the
 school.  All turnoffs to the school were blocked off.  Kelly
 asked a police officer what was going on and that I was
 supposed to officiate basketball at the HS.  She said that
 there was a bomb threat at the school and all of the games were
 cancelled.

Wow!  I've never heard of this happening before.  A basketball
 game being cancelled because of a bomb threat.  We pulled off
 in a fast food parking lot to call the booking agent with our
 cell phone. I did not want to leave not knowing for sure that
 the game was cancelled.  Mr. Mattocks instructed me to try and
 get closer to the school to get in touch w/ a coach or AD.  I
 did find out from a school employee that the game was not
 cancelled, but moved to New Hanover HS.

Now my dilemma is getting in touch with my partners.  I called
 Mr. Mattocks back and informed his wife what was going on, &
 she got in touch with Peck and Peter via cell phone.

The boys JV game scheduled for 4:30 did not tipoff until 6:30.
  Our games were over at @ 11:00pm.

I guess the lesson learned by this official is not to believe
 the first person you are in contact with about whether a game is
 on or off.  It is better to get word from someone directly
 related to the school and hopefully a coach or AD.  Also, what
 a great invention in the cellular phones.  It probably saved a
 lot of confusion from taking place.

- Conference tournaments will begin this week.
- Sectionals will follow the week after.
- Then, the regionals in Greenville.
- It seems like yesterday we were sitting in Chapel Hill
  watching the championship games.  This year has flew by rather
  quickly.  I am sure the booking agent does not feel so,
  however, with all of the postponements and schedule changes due
  to the weather.
- I have had a great regular season and am looking forward to
  the playoffs.

Clarkie Sports

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